CEBU CITY -- Judoka Desiree Inciso of Lanang, an only child of a “balut” vendor widower, captured a gold medal for Davao City in the ongoing Philippine National Games (PNG) 2018 judo competition at the University of San Carlos North Campus Gym here.
Dabawenya Inciso topped the senior women's -78 kilograms division by beating Sofie Marie Belonio of Quezon City in their championship match via Newaza-Grappling.
She also outclassed a rival from Zamboanga City.
The 25-year-old ace, whose mother died when she was two months old, could only heave a sigh of relief as she at last won a gold in her third PNG stint. She only brought home bronzes in her past two stints of the games.
"Proud kaayo ko nga naka-gold dala ang pangalan sa Davao, lipay jud kaayo ko (I am proud to had won a gold representing the city, I am so happy)," Inciso, who was left to the care of her grandmother when her mother died, said.
She just graduated from the University of Mindanao with a degree in Criminology as a varsity scholar. She will take the board exam in June and dreams of being a policewoman.
Inciso added in the vernacular, "This gold is for my family."
She also thanked coach Edwin Pelaez for his support.
In other divisions, Ryan Donor bowed to Marikina player Gilbert Martinez in their senior men's -90 kilograms finals to end up with the silver instead as Carl Dave Aseneta bagged a bronze in senior men's -100 kilograms.
Dabawenyas Honey Lorraine Dabucol (senior women's -52 kgs) and Charise Divine Aseneta (senior women's -63 kgs) got silvers while while Dyle Christine Lozana (senior women's -70 kgs) earned a bronze.
National team member Jenilous Mosqueda also won a silver in women's -57 kgs.